"The old mansion at the southeast corner of Germantown Avenue and
High Street, usually attracts the attention of strangers because
of its unique appearance. The rear part is considerably older
that the rest, and this part was at one time the local post
office. There is much of interest connected with the place, but
it is especially associated with the name of Dr. Christopher
Witt, the celebrated physician, Pietist, and Mystic philosopher.

"The property is a part of lot No. 15 'towards Bristol.' Its
first owner was Isaac Dilbeck, who was one of the four servants
who came over with Pastorius. The early deeds do not appear to
be on record, but there is a record of an agreement that Dilbeck
made with the Frankfort Company, which provides that he is to
give his surplus time to the company in payment for the land...

"The next owner was Daniel
Geissler, who was one of the Pietists that came over with
Johannes Kelpius, the celebrated leader of the 'Hermits of the
Ridge.'...After the death of Kelpius [in 1708] and the scattering
of the members of the Mystic community that had been established
upon the Wissahickon, Geissler and Dr. Witt came to live in a
small house situated on the Warmer property.

"Geissler sold the property to Christian Warmer. Christian
Warmer died in 1726, and in his will he made provision for the
welfare of his two friends [will's provisions state that Doctor
Witt and Daniel Geissler could live on the property until their
deaths]. Dr. Witt and Daniel Geissler continued to live in the
little house on the Warmer estate until Geissler's death, which
took place in 1745. The doctor then went to live in the larger house that had been erected
some time previously by Christian Warmer (2nd)."

Built by Christian Warmer, early eighteenth century. 1776
Elizabeth and Lydia Warmer to John Bringhurst. The line of
ownership can be traced through the following persons:

Bringhurst to Charles Hubbs (Deed Book D, 56--318)

to Keturah Clemens (Deed Book E.F. 7--643)

to George Ritter

to Peter Kline (Deed Book E.F. 20--328)

to Elizabeth Powell (Deed Book I.C. 29--404)

bequeathed to her great-niece Margaret Morris (p. 40:
Mrs. Ann Willing Morris lived here from 1812 to her death in
1853)

her executors sold to Edgar Butler in 1888 (Deed Book
G.G.P. 338--416)

now occupied by James A. Farnum

"The sisters Elizabeth C. and Margaretta H. Morris lived here
together after the death of their mother in 1853. Both of these
ladies were noted for their scientific attainments, Elizabeth
being well known as a botanist, and Margaretta an entomologist.
The enotomological researchers of the latter were of considerable
importance. She is especially remembered for having worked out
the life history of the seventeen-year locust."